Consumer prices edge up in May; inflation in check
Consumer prices rose less than expected in May and posted the steepest annual drop in 59 years, according to government data released Wednesday, fresh evidence that the recession is keeping inflation in check.

New program to bring workers
WorkForce Solutions South Plains accepted a check for $360,000 Wednesday as part of a state-supported pilot program aimed at attracting workers from other parts of the U.S. to the South Plains.

Chrysler to restart seven plants
DETROIT (AP) - Chrysler Group LLC plans to restart seven assembly plants at the end of June after silencing all of its factories during its six-week stay in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Flipped cement truck blocks traffic
A cement truck that overturned at a major Lubbock intersection on Thursday snarled lunch hour traffic, while the effort to resurrect it entertained about a dozen onlookers.

From our story comments
"For schools to be safe and effective, there should be the assumption imperfect educators are working with the imperfect children of imperfect parents. It takes a lot of communication to have a good school/home relationship."

From our story comments
"My thoughts go out to the family and friends, and I hope they can get some closure and deal with this tragedy."

Quick opinion
Cost-conscious consumers got a bit of good news with the Labor Department's announcement prices for goods are rising less than predicted. The consumer price index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.1 percent last month, well below expectations. Gasoline prices rose but are still below last summer's $4 a gallon at the pump.

Quick opinion
Since Gov. Rick Perry signed legislation helping establish new research universities in the state, including Texas Tech, voters now have the opportunity to approve an endowment fund so the law can take effect. We encourage voters to say yes in November. With due diligence, Tech can become Texas' fourth Tier One institution.

Education briefs
The Texas Tech College of Human Sciences will host its second annual fashion camp for middle school and high school students.

Critterfest: It's a zoo out there
The Science Spectrum & OMNI Theater is transforming into a zoo from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Wedding showdown approaches
When Leigh Daniel and Nick Cordes began dating in 2004, they hid their relationship for nearly a year because they were participants of the Olympics Development Program in Chicago. The program prohibited dating other participants.

Junebug, Mama Michelle prove to be comedy standouts
Billed as the headliner Thursday at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Theater, Joel Runnels, better known simply as Junebug, managed to host, provide his own improved and improvised introduction, and almost run around enough on stage to lose weight while keeping comedy fans laughing.

Junebug, Mama Michelle prove to be comedy standouts
Billed as the headliner Thursday at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Theater, Joel Runnels, better known simply as Junebug, managed to host, provide his own improved and improvised introduction, and almost run around enough on stage to lose weight while keeping comedy fans laughing.

Web support pours out for Iran protesters
Google and Facebook have rushed out services in Farsi. Twitter users have changed their home cities to Tehran to provide cover for Internet users there. Others have configured their computers to serve as relay points to bypass Iranian censorship.

Mourners remember slain museum guard
Family, friends and colleagues on Friday remembered a guard who was gunned down at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum last week as the victim of an evil and barbaric act that contrasted starkly with his love for life.

Flipped cement truck blocks traffic
A cement truck that overturned at a major Lubbock intersection on Thursday snarled lunch hour traffic, while the effort to resurrect it entertained about a dozen onlookers.

Ex-Spurs exec to push Tech system
A former executive for the San Antonio Spurs has been hired to develop a national marketing strategy for the Texas Tech University System.

New program to bring workers
WorkForce Solutions South Plains accepted a check for $360,000 Wednesday as part of a state-supported pilot program aimed at attracting workers from other parts of the U.S. to the South Plains.

Proposal of financial plan under scrutiny
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's plan to increase oversight of banks and other financial institutions ran into skepticism Thursday on Capitol Hill where senators sharply questioned whether it was enough to prevent another economic meltdown.

Incentives plan for motorists approved
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress approved a "cash for clunkers" program Thursday to provide government incentives of $3,500 to $4,500 to motorists who trade in their gas guzzlers for more fuel efficient vehicles after Senate Democrats narrowly defeated a Republican effort to kill the plan.

Obama to set new rules for financial system
WASHINGTON - From simple home loans to Wall Street's most exotic schemes, the government would impose sweeping new "rules of the road" for the nation's battered financial system under an overhaul proposed Wednesday by President Barack Obama.

Court rejects DNA request
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court said Thursday that a convicted rapist has no constitutional right to test biological evidence used at his trial in Alaska years earlier, leaving it to the states to decide when prisoners get access to genetic evidence that might prove their innocence.

Town to be moved to higher ground
MARTIN, Ky. - The trucks have come again to haul away soaked sofas and waterlogged mattresses. Cars that weren't moved soon enough have been towed away, their engines and interiors fouled.

GAO: U.S. needs plan for gun trafficking
WASHINGTON - Government efforts to stop the flow of guns from the United States to Mexico have suffered in recent years from having no clear plan to combat gunrunners affiliated with drug cartels, investigators have concluded.

Agents to get authority to investigate drug cases
WASHINGTON - More federal agents will be able to investigate drug cases under a new agreement between government agencies battling Mexican cartels, Attorney General Eric Holder told Congress on Wednesday.

Death NoticesElby Anderson, 93, of Lubbock died June 16, 2009. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Resthaven Memorial Park. Resthaven Funeral Home.

Death NoticesJanie Blanton, 59, of Lubbock died June 16, 2009. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Broadway Church of Christ. Agape Funeral Chapel.

Pablo Mendez
Pablo Mendez, 75, of Crosbyton passed away June 18, 2009. Services will be 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2009 at Templo Elim Assembly of God in Crosbyton. Burial will be at Crosbyton Cemetery under the direction of Bartley Funeral Home of Plainview.

O. R. (Ott) Roberts, Jr
Funeral services for O. R. (Ott) Roberts, Jr., 79, of Levelland will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2009 at First United Methodist Church, Levelland, with Rev. Wendell Horn, pastor, Oakwood United Methodist Church of Lubbock, officiating. Burial will be in City of Levelland Cemetery under direction of George Price Funeral Home of Levelland. He died Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at Covenant Hospital in Levelland.

Jack Leon Pruett
Services for Jack Leon Pruett, 71, of Slaton and formerly of Canyon will be 10 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2009 in Englunds Chapel in Slaton. Graveside services will be 3 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2009 in Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon. Arrangements are under the direction of Englunds Funeral Service in Slaton.

Elvina Jane Hooten Blanton
"Janie" was born to Hubert and Billie Hooten in Tucumcari, N.M. on Oct. 22, 1949. She married Randal Lloyd Blanton on Oct. 12, 1973 in Plainview.

Elby Anderson
Graveside services for Elby Anderson, 93, of Lubbock, will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009 at Resthaven Memorial Park. Mrs. Anderson passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

Trinity Stovall Dean
Our Heavenly Father took our precious daughter, Trinity Cheyanne Stovall Dean, to walk with Him hand in hand for Eternity. Trinity was a beautiful, vibrant, witty, gentle, unselfish, and playful enduring child. She was an honor student at Frenship's Terra Vista Middle School, where she participated in athletics. She loved soccer and running up and down the field.

Era Lee Bryant
Era Lee Bryant was born on September 29, 1909 in Leonard, Texas to Jeff D. and Fannie F. (Wilson) Williamson. She moved to Hopkins County in 1912, San Angelo in 1929, and then to Lubbock in 1950. Era attended East Texas State University in Commerce and received a Masters Degree from Texas Tech. She taught school for 32 years, the latter 20 of those years in Lubbock.

Ruby L. Holloway
Ruby L. Holloway, 97, of Lubbock passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. She was born on February 18, 1912 in Cleveland County, Okla. to Harry and Lattie Arnold. She graduated Valedictorian from Hughes High School in Lindsey, Okla. She married N. E. Holloway, who preceded her in death in 1995. They moved to Lubbock in the early 1930s.

Fred Gonzales
Fred Gonzales of O'Donnell departed this life on June 16, 2009 at the age of 53 years. He was born in Lamesa on February 25, 1956 to the late Lucas Gonzales and Carolina Euresti Gonzales. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sandra Gonzales.

Melva Jones
Funeral services for Melva Jones, 69, of Lamesa will be held on Friday, June 19, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the Sunset Baptist Church in Lamesa with Huey Harris officiating. Burial will follow in Lamesa Memorial Park under the direction of Branon Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Branon Funeral Home.

Masirhae Alyssa Medina
Funeral services for Masirhae Alyssa Medina, infant, of Lubbock will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009 at Guajardo Funeral Chapels with Rev. Earl Robertson officiating. Evening services will be at 7 p.m. today at Guajardo Funeral Chapels. Burial will be at Peaceful Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Guajardo Funeral Chapels.

Wayne Harrell
Wayne Harrell, 78, of Lubbock passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Services for Mr. Harrell will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Bethany Baptist Church, with Pastor Aaron Denson officiating. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park. The family will receive friends and loved ones from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Resthaven Funeral Home.

Wanda Jean (Babe) Miller
Wanda Jean (Babe) Miller passed away on June 16, 2009 after a lengthy battle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers will host a gathering of family and friends from 6 to 7:30 this evening at the funeral home. Celebration services will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009 in Lake Ridge Chapel with burial following in the Littlefield Cemetery.

Justin Blake Johnson
Justin Blake Johnson was born on February 7, 1981 in Lubbock. He went to meet his Heavenly Father on Monday, June 15, 2009 in Lubbock at the age of 28.

Laverna Price Johnston
Former Motley County Judge Laverna Price Johnston passed away on Wednesday, June 17, in Amarillo after a lengthy illness.

Tomas C. Olivarez
Rosary services for Tomas Olivarez, 52, of Slaton, will be at 7 p.m. today at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with Deacon Phillip Maldonado officiating. Resurrection Mass Service will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009 in the same church. Burial will follow in Englewood Cemetery and under the direction of Englunds Funeral Service of Slaton.

Dawn Marie Peterman
Family and friends of Dawn Marie Peterman will gather for a private ceremony to celebrate her life of 53 years at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers Ceremonial Room. Dawn died on Tuesday, June 16, 2009.

No dinosaurs for Phil, but birthday breakfast
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - Phil Mickelson could not have asked for a better time celebrating his 39th birthday, even if his presents were a little more traditional than the head of a dinosaur or a meteorite.

Prep deaths prompt proposal by trainers
SAN ANTONIO - High school football teams should eliminate two-a-day practices during the first week of August drills when heat stroke has proven particularly deadly, a leading trainers' group said Thursday in a report issued less than two months before the sweltering rite of passage begins at thousands of schools.

Murphy's 10th-inning single lifts Rangers to victory
ARLINGTON - David Murphy hit a game-winning RBI single with one out in the 10th inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 5-4 Wednesday night, taking advantage of two throwing errros by Ivan Rodriguez on the day he set the major league record for games caught.

Calhoun's slam, double lift Sun Devils
OMAHA, Neb. - Kole Calhoun hit the game-tying grand slam in the fifth inning and the go-ahead double in the seventh, and Arizona State erased a four-run deficit in a 12-5 victory over North Carolina at the College World Series on Thursday night.

Cubs rally for victory over crosstown rival
CHICAGO - Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto hit consecutive homers to tie the game in a four-run eighth inning, then Alfonso Soriano singled home the winning run in the ninth to give the Chicago Cubs a 6-5 victory over the White Sox on Thursday.

Pitcher Owings homers in 4-3 Reds win over Braves
CINCINNATI - Micah Owings hit a three-run homer and pitched six effective innings to overcome Javier Vazquez's complete game and lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night.

Jury sentences former slugger Hall to 45 years
FORT WORTH - Former major league outfielder Mel Hall was sentenced to 45 years in prison Wednesday after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl he coached on an elite basketball team.

Texas girl killed near Juarez
SAN ELIZARIO (AP) - When 11-year-old Priscilla Ibarra Alfaro left her mother's house east of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Saturday night, no one thought twice about her jaunt to a nearby hamburger stand.

State judge indicted for keying car of neighbor
HOUSTON - A state district judge from Houston was indicted Thursday on a vandalism charge after a surveillance videotape supposedly showed him scratching his next-door neighbor's car with a key.

Judge to rule on bail request in murders
AUSTIN (AP) - A judge said Thursday he will rule next week on a request to reduce bail for a man awaiting retrial in the 1991 deaths of four girls at an Austin yogurt shop.

Militants, hacktivists' exploit Web recruits
WASHINGTON - Terrorist groups that have long used the Internet to spread propaganda are increasingly tapping the Web to teach Islamic extremists how to be hackers, recruit techies for cyberwarfare and raise money through online fraud, U.S. officials say.

Source: Military watches suspicious N. Korea ship
WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is tracking a ship from North Korea that may be carrying illicit weapons, the first vessel monitored under tougher new United Nations rules meant to rein in and punish the communist government following a nuclear test, officials said Thursday.

U.S. accused of meddling
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran directly accused the United States of meddling in the deepening crisis over a disputed presidential election and broadened its media clampdown Wednesday to include blogs and news Web sites. But protesters took to the streets in growing defiance of the country's Islamic rulers.

Missile strikes in Pakistan kill eight
ISLAMABAD - Suspected U.S. missiles pounded militant hideouts Thursday in the tribal belt near Afghanistan where Pakistani troops are building up for a major offensive against the country's top Taliban leader.

Afghanistan police giving little help
GOLESTAN, Afghanistan - The request crackled over the radio in the police station in this remote Afghan valley: four officers needed to accompany U.S. Marines on an overnight patrol.